Method of producing a microfluidic device

Abstract

The present invention provides a microfluidic device comprising a body structure which comprises a fusible material. Selective application of energy (e.g. scanning radiation) produces and maintains a network of microchannels by fusing the material. There may be pons in fluid communication with one or more channels. The subject devices find use in a variety of electrophoretic applications, including clinical assays, high throughput screening for genomics, proteomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-of-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to miniature instrumentation for chemical / biochemical analysis and chemical / biological sensing and, more specifically, to microfluidic devices, their production and use. It is particularly concerned with methods for creating microchannels, and to controlled manipulations of fluids and capillaries in microchannels. These microchannels and tools for their creating and manipulation can be used in a variety of applications, including capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, and flow injection analysis. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Microfluidic systems have become increasingly popular tools in electronics, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical and related industries where they provide numerous advantages, including significantly smaller reagent requirements, high speed of analysis and the possibility for automation [U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,343 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,974]. Typical examples of such microfluidic devices are a min...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention enables one to provide microfluidic devices that combine the advantages of microfluidics with improved material handling characteristics and reduced costs for manufacturing.

[0014] The formation and maintenance of the integrated microchannel network in the interior part of the microfluidic device may be achieved by patterned direction of energy, e.g. heat or light into the interior part of microfluidic device. This application of energy results in partial melting of the substrate material of the interior part of the device according to a preset pattern in a way that ensures that the liquid channels are formed between the top and the bottom parts of the device. In different formats of the microfluidic device the energy will be applied to the interior part in different ways, including using light (e.g. a laser beam), heat (using e.g. IR laser), focused ionic, particle, X-ray and electron beams. In some embodiments the patterning will be achieved by focusing energy beams in pre-determined parts of the interior part through a transparent part of the casing or by using masks, which restrict the direction of energy to the predetermined areas of the interior part only. The advantages of the approach, described in this invention lies in the flexibility of the system. The pattern (and the patterned system of created microchannels) can be changed by re-focusing and re-directing the applied energy. The microchannel network will exist only when the energy is applied to corresponding areas. When the application of energy stops—the liquid in the channel will be frozen and channel will disappear. A plurality of integrated microchannels, including transverse channels, cross intersections, “T” intersections, etc., in the same microfluidic device can be created for a variety of specific applications. The microchannel network can also be modified in real time during the analytical or separation method to facilitate or promote individual stages of the experiment or analysis. The connection between the channels, reservoirs, ports for fluid communications and electrodes can be easily established or terminated by focusing energy at appropriate connection points.

Problems solved by technology

The microchannel network is created and maintained in the body structure by directing patterned energy flow, which results in partial melting of substrate material along the applied pattern.

Images